Sydney Airport Corporation’s decision not to build and operate Badgerys Creek airport site last week has been met with derision by Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill. “Sydney Airport Corporation are the people in Australia who know how to run an airport – and they have given this a fail mark. It vindicates the community opposition to this white elephant project that is decades in the making”, Cr Greenhill said. “Fog bound, close to Sydney’s water supply and a world-heritage area, away from transport with incredible infrastructure costs required to get it going,” he said, were some of the problems associated with the “financial unviability” of the project. “The free market government is going to spend upwards of six billion of public money … not since the Snowy Mountains scheme have we seen this [spending]. This is a dumb idea,” Cr Greenhill said. “If it were a car it would be a bad deal .. the Holden Barina of airports. This council remains opposed to any airport at that location.” Independent Cr Shae Foenander said “right from the beginning we knew this airport would be a white elephant”. Greens Cr Kerry Brown said high speed rail was a viable alternative high speed option. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the airport will be a major catalyst for jobs and economic growth. But SAC chief executive Kerrie Mather has said “despite the opportunities that Western Sydney Airport will present, the risks associated with the development and operation of Western Sydney Airport are considerable and endure for many decades without commensurate returns for our investors”. Council voted to write to the Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher again to request they reconsider the second airport based on the new decision. The decision was passed despite Liberal councillors Brendan Christie and Kevin Schreiber voting against the decision.

Sydney Airport Corporation’s decision not to build and operate Badgerys Creek airport site last week has been met with derision by Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill.

Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill

“Sydney Airport Corporation are the people in Australia who know how to run an airport – and they have given this a fail mark. It vindicates the community opposition to this white elephant project that is decades in the making”, Cr Greenhill said.

“Fog bound, close to Sydney’s water supply and a world-heritage area, away from transport with incredible infrastructure costs required to get it going,” he said, were some of the problems associated with the “financial unviability” of the project.

“The free market government is going to spend upwards of six billion of public money … not since the Snowy Mountains scheme have we seen this [spending]. This is a dumb idea,” Cr Greenhill said.

“If it were a car it would be a bad deal .. the Holden Barina of airports. This council remains opposed to any airport at that location.”

Independent Cr Shae Foenander said “right from the beginning we knew this airport would be a white elephant”.

Greens Cr Kerry Brown said high speed rail was a viable alternative high speed option.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the airport will be a major catalyst for jobs and economic growth.

But SAC chief executive Kerrie Mather has said “despite the opportunities that Western Sydney Airport will present, the risks associated with the development and operation of Western Sydney Airport are considerable and endure for many decades without commensurate returns for our investors”.

Council voted to write to the Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher again to request they reconsider the second airport based on the new decision. The decision was passed despite Liberal councillors Brendan Christie and Kevin Schreiber voting against the decision.